Peristaltic Pumps for Cobalt Purification

Cobalt is used in a wide range of industries including the production of alloys for the ceramics industry and pigmentation in the glass, paint and lacquer industries. Most European industries rely on supplies from Morocco and demand is growing. With demand being so high ways to increase productivity and efficiency need to be explored.

Ore Purification

A compliment of 30 Verderflex peristaltic pumps have been chosen to aid in the ore purification exercise to refine the cobalt. The pumps will be tasked with transferring a sulphuric acid solution (30%) and ammonia (25%) from the storage tanks to the baths. The fluids are used to rinse the cobalt and remove any impurities in the ore such as arsenic, iron and nickel. This process is known as electrolysis, and allows the cobalt to become purer and even more concentrated.

The amount of solution delivered to wash the ore has to be continuously adjusted to match the pH level of the ore being processed. The peristaltic pumps are ideal for this purpose as the dosing of the fluid can be precisely controlled by a frequency control unit, directed by a pH meter.

Centrifuge Feed Pump

Peristaltic pumps are also used in another process involved in the mining of the cobalt. The band filtration process produces a filter cake with a waste residue that is kept in collection basins. These residues are abrasive and acidic and need to be separated from the process water. A Verderflex peristaltic pump acts as a centrifuge feed pump. The centrifuge separates the solids, such as very fine powders, from the process water. The peristaltic pump is able to effectively pump the abrasive fluid without suffering any excessive wear due to the fact that no pumped materials can come into contact with any moving parts.

The incredibly robust and simple construction of the Verderflex peristaltic pumps makes them ideal for use in the heavy industries such as the mining industry.